As part of its “all-of-the-above” approach to meeting our nation’s growing energy needs, CEA strongly supports the expanded use of solar power nationally and in Florida. The consumer group believes that diversifying our energy portfolio and improving options for families and small businesses, will help further reduce energy prices, lower emissions, and enhance our nation’s energy security.

The new report analyzes the cost of a typical solar facility in Florida and 24 states and details the federal, state and local incentives available for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV). It found that:

Existing incentives for residential PV are significant – In all but five states, direct owners receive at least 75% of total system costs in total incentives under a standard rate structure.

Utility-scale solar installations are less expensive to install and are incentivized at lower rates per watt than rooftop solar PV systems. Residential solar PV systems receive, on average, between 104% and 140% of total system costs in incentives. Utility-scale solar installations only receive about 45% of total system costs in incentives.

Incentives for residential solar PV vary widely among the states. In Florida:

A single 6,100-watt direct owned rooftop system in Florida receives $12,848 in taxpayer and net metering incentives, or about $2.11 in incentives per watt, representing 65% of the actual cost of the system.

A single 6,100-watt third-party owned rooftop solar system in Florida receives $16,500 in taxpayer and net metering incentives, or about $2.70 in incentives per watt, representing 99% of the actual cost of the system.

As solar technology continues to reshape modern electricity generation, the number of solar systems in the U.S. has grown rapidly. The 2018 analysis found that in order to accelerate the installation of PV systems, local, state and federal governments have provided several incentive programs for rooftop solar owners. In many states, total incentives are much greater than a solar system’s total costs.

The combination of these incentives – along with the substantial declining cost of installing PV systems over the past several years – has led to significant increases in the use of rooftop PV systems across the country. As a result, many states are re-examining the scope and methods surrounding their incentive programs and are now considering programs that rely more on a competitive marketplace to provide the economically optimal levels of rooftop solar adoption.

“Solar energy is an important and growing part of America’s diverse energy mix. We strongly support solar’s growth across the country and we want to ensure that our nation’s solar policies continue to keep pace with the dynamic changes taking place in today’s markets so that its continued growth is assured,” said Brydon Ross, Vice President of State Affairs for CEA. “Solar brings with it tremendous benefits for all consumers – including those in Florida.”

Ross added: “Because of the rapid transformations in both the economics of solar PV systems and the policy dialogue over solar incentives in the states, we hope that CEA’s updated analysis will help policymakers in Florida by quantifying current incentives provided for solar PV systems. By supporting pro-solar, pro-grid and pro-consumer policies, CEA hopes to continue to ensure the proliferation of solar technology, the efficiency of a robust electric grid and increased access to clean, renewable, affordable and reliable energy sources, for all American consumers.”

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 500,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.